My Conversation with Former U.S. Secretaries of State James Baker and Warren Christopher

For more than two centuries, the nation has debated the question of war powers. The Constitutional wording is well-known: the president is the Commander-in-Chief, but Congress has the power to declare war and to appropriate funds. A new bipartisan commission is calling for more consultation between the president and Congress before entering into "significant armed conflict." Former U.S. Secretaries of State James Baker and Warren Christopher co-chaired the commission and here is a part of what they told me recently:

Comments

[sytgrl]

02:23 AM on 07/10/2008

Mr. Rose, up until last night, you were one of my favorite journalists, because I always thought you were insightful and fair. However, when you asked how anyone could disagree with this proposal, I was appalled. The Constitution is clear, and this faux debate on the war powers of the executive branch is a false flag. The president should "consult" with congress, with stipulations as to who that should or should not be? That proposition is the exact opposite of what the Constitution states. Shame on you.

[Titonwan]

10:06 PM on 07/09/2008

I watched that episode with keen and absolute attention. These two serpents are very wise to the point of being down right scary. The bulbous one, reminding you of a kamodo dragon (if they shaved and wore ties) always knew right when to chortle in, when croakey, the holy wrinkled one, would ponder too much. I've become weary, constantly trying to decipher their twisted and convoluted rhetoric- and lies. That's what took me so long, before I caught the first one (they're that good!) and then could relax a little. I knew, by reasoning, the rest was bound to be built on the previous BS, therefore no reason to believe any of the smack. But then, I got a scare, because they've got their little dog and pony show pretty polished and they're just rehearsing! They still have to sing and dance their way into the candidates hearts (they will, natch, they're all criminals now), Congress (no problem! AT&T owns them!) and most people that believe what the News tells them to. Go to sleep, America! It's nothing but your rights... you don't need em!

[darker]

09:50 PM on 07/09/2008

Jim Baker is PISSED OFF AT GEORGIE W. BUSH, the frat-brat son of his pal ex-president Bush.

Georgie never obeyed anybody, refused to study anything, was a drunk and cocaine user, and
CRASHED every business his pals started for him. Georgie succeeded at NOTHING.
ZILCH.

The power-drunk and HOPELESSLY DELINQUENT George Bush cannot be stopped now by Jim Baker or even his own pissy daddy Bush. Too late. Too many dead now. The economy crashed now. Corrupt deregulated war corporations rule.

[raoulhubris]

09:27 PM on 07/09/2008

Why would this weak-kneed lily-livered congress restrict the cowboy executive branch if a single corporation told them not to? Christopher and Baker know damned well there is nothing democratic about this republic and toss this greasy bone to a public passive enough to accept their negotiated administration. Don't patronize us with this crap!

[earthwealth]

07:29 PM on 07/09/2008

Thank you gentlemen. In this complicated era, our country desperately needs courageous and truly patriotic citizens such as you to step forward and take some action. Unfortunately there is no sign of Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. Our children will owe you.

[Titonwan]

10:21 PM on 07/09/2008

Why, they're at the absolutely huge and gorgeous AT&T gala event, complete with red roses and 4th amendment bunting draped from every pitch fork. They're going to offer champagne, but drinking the privacy of individuals is most preferable. There's a lot of wet pant's (from gratification) in the GOP camps tonight (along with the blue dogs) as they celebrate smacking your right to privacy right in the throat. And if you believe these jacklegs, you are gullible. The Constitution is clear. Congress hold the power to declare war. They need to take that right back and stop even limited excercises that are not legal. WE are the one running terrorist's operations. Covert ops in a sovereign nation? Really. Don't expect these soldiers any mercy if they're caught doing this. Especially by the only President in history to be a known mass murderer? 9/11 happened on G. Bush's watch- that's enough right there to impeach him- let alone starting a false war in Iraq. He should be tried and executed if found guilty.

[BhunduBoy]

06:23 PM on 07/09/2008

"significant armed conflict.". Why is it so difficult to recognize a war as a war?